Riverton had their chances against top-ranked Cheyenne East in the final game of the Bill Strannigan Classic at Wolverine gym Friday night.
With 28 seconds remaining and trailing 62-55, Parker Paxton was fouled on a 3-point attempt. The senior hit all three free throws to close the gap to four points.
The Wolverines stole the inbound pass, but senior Dre’Vin Monroe was unable to hit an offside jump shot over three East defenders and the Thunderbirds were able to escape with the win.
The Wolverines finished 2-2 on the weekend and make the trip to Sweetwater County this weekend for games against Idaho teams and the Thunder Basin Bolts.
Riverton and East exchanged baskets early but a blistering long-range barrage by the T-Birds in the second period was the difference in the game. Cheyenne East hit five 3-pointers in the second period and tallied nine in the game.
Cheyenne East has talented guards that shoot the long ball well. They had four players hit a pair of 3-pointers each.
Riverton hit five treys as well, with Paxton draining four of them and Ty Sheets another.
Paxton led the Wolverines with 23 points and Sheets added 11.
Cheyenne was paced by 6-0 senior guard Drew Jackson with 20 points and 6-3 senior forward Camden Hayes with 17.
RIVERTON 17 11 17 14 – 59
CHEYENNE EAST 15 25 11 13 – 64
Riverton – Ty Sheets 3 (1) 2-2 11, Dre’Vin Monroe 3 0-2 6, Brodie Dale 2 0-3 4, Kelley 2-2 2, Parker Paxton 4 (4) 3-4 23, Hunter Hauck 1 0-0 2, Eli Lucas 3 2-2 8. Totals 15 (5) 10-16 59
East – Bohlmann 4-4 4, Mirich (2) 2-6 8, Hossler 0-2 0, Jackson 7 (2) 0-0 20, Johnson 1 (1) 2-2 7, Hayes 3 (2) 5-6 17, Lissman 1 (2) 0-0 8. Totals 12 (9) 13-19 64